Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SUCCESS by JOHN TROTWOOD MOORE

First Line: TIS THE COWARD WHO QUITS TO MISFORTUNE
Last Line: AND WON—'TWIXT THE FLAG AND THE WIRE!
Subject(s): SUCCESS; VICTORY;

'TIS the coward who quits to misfortune,
'Tis the knave who changes each day,
'Tis the fool who wins half the battle,
Then throws all his chances away.

There is little in life but labor,
And to-morrow may find that a dream;
Success is the bride of Endeavor,
And luck—but a meteor's gleam.

The time to succeed is when others,
Discouraged, show traces of tire,
The battle is fought in the homestretch—
And won—'twixt the flag and the wire!



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